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Lee Bennett Hopkins is a pillar in children’s literature, having created and received several awards in his career. Here are some of his more notable achievements.

AWARDS ESTABLISHED

Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry award was established in 1993 and is presented annually to an American poet or anthologist for the most outstanding new book of children's poetry published in the previous calendar year.

It is co-sponsored by Mr. Hopkins himself, the Pennsylvania State University Libraries, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, and an additional sponsor, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. The winning poet or anthologist receives a handsome plaque and a $1000 honorarium. For full details, click here to visit the award's website.

Click below to view a video from Lee commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

Lee Bennett Hopkins/IRA Promising Poet Award

The Lee Bennett Hopkins/IRA Promising Poet Award is given every three years to a promising new poet of children’s poetry (for children and young adults up to grade 12) who has published no more than two books of children’s poetry. For full details, click here to visit the award's website.

AWARDS WON

NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children

The National Council of Teachers of English wishes to recognize and foster excellence in children's poetry by encouraging its publication and by exploring ways to acquaint teachers and children with poetry through such means as publications, programs, and displays. As one means of accomplishing this goal, NCTE established its Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 1977 to honor a living American poet for his or her aggregate work for children ages 3–13.

Lee Bennett Hopkins received the NCTE Award in 2009. For full details, click here to visit the award's website, and click here for the award's feature article on Hopkins.

Christopher Award

First presented in 1949, the Christopher Awards were established by Christopher founder Father James Keller to salute media that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.” Their goal is to encourage men, women and children to pursue excellence in creative arenas that have the potential to influence a mass audience positively. Award winners encourage audiences to see the better side of human nature and motivate artists and the general public to use their best instincts on behalf of others.

Lee Bennett Hopkins received the Christopher Award in 1995 for his autobiographical poetry collection Been To Yesterdays. For full details, click here to visit the award's website.

Golden Kite Honor Book Award

Instituted in 1973, the Golden Kite Honor Book Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers. More than 1,000 books are entered each year. The award is presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, and given annually to recognize excellence in children’s literature.

Lee Bennett Hopkins received the Golden Kite Honor Book Award in 1996 for his autobiographical poetry collection Been To Yesterdays. For full details, click here to visit the award's website.

Guinness World Records

In July 2011, Lee Bennett Hopkins was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most prolific anthologist of poetry for children, with 113 titles to his credit. Click here for Hopkins' entry among the world's greatest.